3. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE CHILLING AND “HORRIFYING TALES OF GOSSIPING BELDAMES.”—A cheerful flow of spirits which arises from the hope of a happy event, inspires a woman with activity and resolution, and is the best preparation for the pains of labor. Do not give way to gloomy and melancholy forebodings or indulge in idle reveries. Any person is your enemy who would exaggerate to you the dangers of labor; and let me here say to you, that if you read in this book of certain unfavorable contingencies, do not let your mind dwell upon them; they occur very rarely indeed, and I hope I have given such advice and instruction, and that you have been so cautious and careful that your chance is unusually favorable. 4. DO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF AT THIS TIME TO WET AND COLD.—Do not go out in bad weather, and do not go to theatres and other crowded places at all. You are especially liable at this time to renal difficulties, and if you take cold, it will cause congestion of the kidneys, and more or less urinary difficulty. It is easier to prevent such complaints than to cure them. 5. TAKE BUT LITTLE MEDICINE.—In general you may rest in the hope that all your troubles will vanish after your confinement, and you can hardly hope to cure them sooner. But keep your bowels loose. If you cannot have daily passages by eating fruits, bread made from unbolted flour, or other laxative diet, take saline waters, compound licorice powder, etc., (F. 108.) If your bowels are constipated at the time that labor commences, take at that time an active cathartic (F. 109). 6. SEEK AND ENGAGE THE BEST POSSIBLE PHYSICIAN.—I do not know but the educated monthly nurse of the future may be well qualified to do all that is necessary in an ordinary natural parturition. But heretofore very few nurses trained in this country are thus prepared; perhaps the popular sentiment is against such an education. But you must always select a physician that you can confide in and trust if an operation is necessary, or there is unusual difficulty. 7. IT IS GENERALLY WELL TO HAVE YOUR PHYSICIAN SEE YOU A MONTH BEFORE THE TIME THAT YOU EXPECT TO BE CONFINED.—Indeed, I would have you consult with your physician during the whole period of your pregnancy. You may get very full directions from this book, but still, where it is practicable, I advise that you consult with some skilled medical friend, who knows your idiosyncracies, and can suggest modifications of the directions as your own case demands. Specimens of your water should be analyzed each week during the last month, if there are any signs of albuminaria, etc., (especially if the face and ankles are bloated.) If there is inability to pass the water, it may be necessary to draw it with a catheter.